Duplex pressure proportioner



June 3, 1947. H J BURKE DUPLEX PM SSURE PRoPoRTIoNER "Filed Nov. l2,1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 rJune 3, 1947.

H. J. BURKE DUPLEX PRES SURE PROPORT IONER Filed Nov. 12, 194?,V

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ilzzezior HAROLD J- BURKE }J I r- H. J. BURKE 2,421,372

DUPLEX PRESSURE PROPORTIONER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 12, 1943 June3, 1947.

zzjeziOr HAROLD J. BURKE orney.

June 3, 1947. H. 1 BURKE y 2,421,372

DUPLEX PRES SURE PROPORT IONER Filed Nov. 12, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 45"I6 |4\l 39 G2 64 f-f 2l FIG] vWQ/Yvbb HAROLD J. BURKE abbo/ww Patente-dJune 3, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE (Granted under the act of March3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928;' 370 O. G. 757) 11 Claims.

This invention relates generally to apparatus for use in the generationof mechanical or air foam employed in the extinguishment of fires andmore particularly to an improved construction of apparatus forintroducing a foam stabilizing solution into a stream of water.

In the production of the sci-called mechanical or air foam. the usualprocedure involves flowing a high velocity stream of water laden with afoam-forming substance through a conduit Vto a point therein where thestream is iinely subdivided or dispersed and Where a suitable gas(usually air from atmosphere) is entrained in such manner as to cause amingling of the liquid and gas as they move in the conduit toward thepoint of discharge therefrom. Typical of this method of producingmechanical foam is that which is described in United States LettersPatent No. 2,106,043, granted January 18, 1938, and No. 2,198,585,granted April 23, 1940.

In order to insure the production of foam of the desired uniformquality, it is necessary that the rate of introduction of thefoam-forming material into the ilowing stream of Water be proportionalto the rate of flow of the water, while in order to insure an adequateprojection of the foam from the discharge nozzle it is necessary tomaintain a considerable head of pressure upon the water stream.

Apparatus for securing these objectives by maintaining a large head ofpressure in the water stream to provide adequate projection of thestabilized foam and utilizing the available head of pressure to forcethe stabilizer material from its source of supply and inject it into theWater stream at a rate which is automatically proportioned to the rateof flow of the water stream without mixing the stabilizing material andWater at the source of supply is well known in the art.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide anapparatusvof the character described with means whereby itmay beoperated continuously and uninterruptedly over an extended period, asmay be required in the extin-Y guishment of an extensive re requiring alarge quantity of foam-forming material. For this purpose the presentinvention provides in an apparatus of the character herelnbeforedescribed at least two sources or reservoirs of foam-forming materialwhich may be employed alternately to supply foamnforming material to theflowing stream of water, the apparatus including suitable means forfacilitating shifting from one to another source of supply offoam-forming material practically instantaneously and Withoutinterrupting the continuous ow of lire extinguishing foam.

In addition, the present apparatus permits the ready replenishment ofthe exhausted reservoir while the other reservoir is in operation,thereby making it available for immediate use upon the exhaustion of theother reservoir and so insuring a substantially constant source ofsupply of the foam-forming solution.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a suitabletimer and signal mechanism for warning an operator when a shift from onereservoir to the other should be carried out.

Still other objects and advantages of the present invention, such as theprovision of a unit which is exceedingly compact and simple inconstruction, which is readily portable and easily operable Withoutrequiring the constant attendance of an operator and which is extremelyenicient in use, will appear more full hereinafter from a reading of thefollowing description and appended claims in conjunction with theattached drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of an apparatus constructed inaccordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the same;

Figure 4 is a partial top plan view of the apparatus showingparticularly the Valve devices employed;

Figure 5 is a combined sectional View, which for the purpose of fullyillustrating the construction and operation of the apparatus, is takenon line 5-5 of Figure 4 viewed as indicated by the arrows associatedwith line '55, the valve for controlling the pressure head on one or theother of the reservoirs for the foam-forming material and forcontrolling the flow of foam-forming material alternately from one orthe other of the reservoirs being shown as taken on lines B-B and C-C ofFigure 4 viewed as indicated by the arrows, the valve as shown in Figure5 being set to provide a pressure head on the lower reservoir and topermit the flow of foam-forming material from said lower reservoir;

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view showing the valve positioned toutilize the upper` reservoir.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal vertical section, partly in elevation, takenalong section line 'l--T of Figure 2 viewed in the direction indicatedby the arrows.

Figure 8 is a transverse, vertical section through the water feed valve,partly in section and partly in elevation, taken along section line 8 8of Figure 2 viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 9 is a transverse vertical section through the inlet valve,partly in elevation and partly in section, taken along section line 9-9in Figure 2 viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure is a transverse section through the discharge valve, taken alongsection line Ill-I0 in Figure 2 partly in section and partly inelevation, viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

Figure l1 is an isometrical projection of the oscillating valve plugwhich is common'to both the inlet and discharge valves.

The main object of the presentinvention, as.

heretofore indicated, is to provide two reservoirs.

of foam-forming material from which such material may be alternatelydrawn for continuously supplying the same to a stream .ofwater'orotherlire extinguishing material, the exhausted reservoiry being adaptedto bereplenishedwith the foam-forming material without interfering with thecontinuous flow of re extinguishing material. In the present andpreferred embodiment of the invention the two reservoirs are disposed ina single container I0. whichisfprovided witha partition I I, thusforming the two chambers I2 and I3. As shown, the two chambersaredisposedin vertically spaced relation, one immediately above theother, but it will be understood that the chambersmay be otherwisedisposed .without departing from ,theY general principles of the.present invention The partition is dished and flanged so as to withstandthe high pressures employed, and for the same reason the chamber |2 isprovided with a dishedtop i4, and the chamber I3 is provided with adished bottom l5.

The container I3 is provided with a pair of filling conduits I6 and I'Ifor filling the chambers IZ and I3, respectively, with foam-formingliquid; the conduit I 'I extending through the chamber I2 and partitionl to present its lower open extremityl |'Ia in communication with theupper region ofthe chamber I3, while the conduit I6 extends through thetop I4 of the containerto present its lower open end I6a incommunication with the upper reg-ion of the chamber I2. The filler pipeslfand I'I are provided, respectively, with closure caps |-8 'and I9',and the chambers l2 andV I3 are preferably provided with baffle plates29 and2|iEL immediately below the lower ends offllling tubes |6fand |'I(see Figure 3) to'prevent thev foamforming material from-.backing out ofthe filler openings-upon foaming and sudden expansion of thefoam-forming material incident to filling the chambers. Each ofthechambers |2 and I3 is provided with a-drain 2|y and.closure-22.

The top |4`of the container I9' is provided with a collar 25 having anopening therethrough, the collar being adapted vto removablysupporta-unitaryassembly comprising a water conduit and valves.indicated generally by reference character 2:1; Preferably, this unitaryassembly 2'Iis provided with a base plate or flange 28v which is securedto the collar 25 by screws or bolts 29.

The specific constructionof assembly 2'1 may takeaany suitable forml solong asV means is provided `for alternately by-passingaportiony of thewater flowing: through the water conduit into reservoirs I2 and I3 andfor'alternately delivering foam-forming solution from reservoirs, I2 andI3 respectively into the water conduit beyond the bypass connection. Asuitable assembly for accomplis'hing. this `purpose is illustrated' inthe drawings and comprises a main valve body 30 having spaced arcuatelyshaped inlet and outlet passages a and b. Passage a comprises a U-shapedpassage, the opposite ends of which are respectively in communicationwith a tube 3| leading to the chamber I3 and with a tube 32 leading tothe chamber I2. A vent 33 open to atmosphere is provided at the top ofthe valve body 30 substantially midway between the opposite endsthereof.

An oscillating valve plug 34, operable by a handle 35, is disposedinteriorly of the valve body 30 and is provided with a pair of inletpassages 36 and 3l, as shown in Figure 5, for the purpose of divertingwater under pressure delivered through the water conduit 39 to either ofthe chambers I 2 or I3, as desired.

The water conduit 39 is provided with an inlet 46 and an outlet 4|, theIatter leading to an air aspirator and nozzle (not shown). A pressuregauge 42 is connected into the water conduit 39, anda main water valve43, operable by handle 44, with its associated shaft 58, arm 64 andvalve slides 60 and 32 is included in the conduit 39 to control thesupply of the water flowing through the conduit. If desired, andpreferably so, a strainer 45 is disposed inthe conduit at the inlet endthereof. The conduit39 communicates with one or the other of thepassages 36 and 3'I in valve plug 34, depending upon the position of thevalve plug 34, by way of a passage 46.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that as the water underpressure ows through conduit 39, a portion of it will be directed intothe chamber I3 by way of the passage 46, passage 36 and tube 3| when thevalve plug 34 is in the position shown in Figure 5. On the other hand,when the valve plug 34 is in its opposite position, as shown in Figure6, a portion of the water under pressure supplied by the conduit 39lwillbe directed into the chamber I2 by way of the passage 46, the passage3'I and the tube 32. The valve plug 34 may also occupy an intermediateclosing position in which it. closes the `upper end of the passage 46,thereby preventing the flow of water from the conduit 39 to either ofthechambers |2 and I3. This closed position of the valve is indicated inFigure 6 by the intermediate dotted line position of the valve plug34.

A substantially identical construction, but on a somewhat smaller scale,is employed for injecting the foam-forming liquid alternately fromchambers I2 or I 3` into the low pressure side of the water conduit 39through passage b. Passage b comprises a U-shaped passage, the oppositeends of which are in communication, respectively, with the foam solutiondelivery tubes 48 and 49. The tube 43 extends to a point adjacent thebottom of thev compartment I3, while the tube 49 extends to a pointadjacent the bottom of the chamber |2. As most clearly appears inFigures 5 and 6, passage b is in communication, by way of the passage59, with a continuation 5| of the conduit 39, this continuation of themain water delivery conduit being of such construction as to provide aVenturi passage through which the water is projected under suitablepressure. The passage 50 leading from the passage b thus communicateswith the low pressure section of the Venturi passage.

Valve plug 34 at passage b is provided with a pair of outlet passages 36and 31 for controlling the flow ofthe foam-forming solution into theIwaterstream passing through conduit 39. Thus, when the valve plug 34 ispositioned as shown in Figure -5, the foam-forming solution is deliveredfrom the chamber I3 into the water stream passing through the lowpressure section of the Venturi passage by way of the delivery tube 48,while when the valve plug is positioned as shown in Figure 6, thefoam-forming solution is delivered into said stream from the chamber I2by way of the delivery tube 49. In its intermediate posi-.- tion, asrepresented by the dotted line showing in Figure 6, the valve plug 34closes the passage 5I) and sc prevents delivery of foaming solution fromeither of the chambers I2 and I3.

Since a single valve plug 34 having axially spaced ports 36, 31 and 36',31 isprovided,'simul` taneous control of inlet and outlet passages a andb is effected by the single operating handle 35. It is to be understood,however, that separate valves, arrangedin passages a and b respectivelyto secure the paths of ilow indicated in Figures 5 and 6, and suitablyconnected to assure simultaneous operation, may be substituted for plugvalve 34 without departing from the spirit of this invention.

'The water inlet end 40 of the passage 39 is connected by means of asuitable coupling andA hose 53 to a hydrant or other source of waterunder suitably high pressure. The outlet or discharge end 4I of thepassage 39 is connected to a discharge conduit 54 through which thewater mixed with the foam stabilizer solution is delivered to the pointwhere air is entrained and thence discharged in the form of nreextinguishing foam. Any suitable manner and means for effecting theentrainment of air or other gas into the stream of 'water laden with thefoam `forniing substance may be employed. It will be understood in thisconnection that this invention is not limited to the use of anyparticular type of foam-forming material. Usually this material is inthe form of an aqueous solution of a secondary extract cf licorice, ofsaponin or of other suitable substance -having the capacity of beingfoamed when a gaseous medium is injected into a solution or suspensionthereof,

The chambers I2 and I3 are normally lled with foam stabilizing solutionand the valve handle 35 is in the intermediate position to close off thepassages 4E and 56. When it is desired to place the apparatus inoperation, the valve handle 35 is moved to either extreme position, andat the same time the water valve 43 is opened to the desired extent. Thewater then passes through the conduit 39 and the Venturi passage 5I andthence through the discharge conduit 54. Assuming that the handle 35 isin the full line position shown in Figure 5, it will be noted that asthe water passes through the valve 34, a portion of it flows underconsiderable pressure upwardly through the passage 46, the passage 35 ofthe valve 34 and thence downwardly through the tube 3l and into the topof the chamber I3, where it exerts a considerable pressure on thesolution in `the chamber. Due to the fact that the tube 48 is incommunication with the low pressure portion of the Venturi passage byway of the passage 59 and passage 36 of valve 34, there exists apressure differential between the latter point and the point of approachof the water pressure upon the upper surface of the foam solution, whichresults in a flow of the foam solution upwardly through the tube 48 byway of said passages 50 and 36 into the flowing stream of water. Thisflow of foam stabilizing solution from the chamber I3 into the stream ofwater will continue so long as a stream of water under suitable pressureows through passage 39 and until the supply of foam solution in thatchamber is exhausted. Inasmuch as the ilow of the foam solution upwardlythrough the tube 48 is dependent upon the pressure differential existingbetween the high and low pressure portions of the passage 39, it will beapparent that by the proper design of the cross sectional areas of theseveral portions of the passage 39, and particularly of the passages 46and 5I), the ratio of the rate of flow of the foam solution to the rateof flow of the WaterI stream may be predetermined and maintained.

By reason of the comparatively large cross section of conduits 3| and32, the rate of flow of water from passage 4B is reduced and the waterpasses downwardly into chamber I2 or I3 in a quiet non-agitating manner,thereby avoiding stirring up the foam stabilizing material in thechamber.

When the foam stabilizer solution is exhausted from the chamber I3, thelatter becomes lled with water under pressure. The handle 35 is thenmoved to its opposite extreme position, thereby establishingcommunication between the water stream in conduit 39 and the secondchamber I2 so as to continue the supply of foam-forming material fromthe chamber I2 into the stream of water. In this case, of course, thefoaming solution is delivered into the iiowing stream of waterby Way ofthe delivery tube 49, passage 31 and the passage 50 which is incommunication with the lowpressure section of the Venturi passage 5I.

It will be noted that when one of the chambers, e. g., chamber I3, isexhausted of its supply of foam-forming material, and the handle 35 isthrown into position to elTect delivery of such material from the secondchamber I2 (see Figure 6), the valve V34 then assumes a position toestablish free ycommunication between the interior of the chamber I3 andatmosphere by way of the vent 33. Conversely, when the chamber I2 isexhausted of its supply of foaming solution and the handle 35 is throwninto the position shown in Figure 5, the interior of the chamber I2 isfreely vented to atmosphere. By so venting` each of the chambers I2 andI3 to atmosphere as theyr are exhausted of their respective supplies offoamforming material, the internal pressure developed in a given chamberis relieved automatically as the other chamber is placed in operation.Consequently, as a given chamber is exhausted of its supply offoam-forming material and relieved ot internal pressure, its drain maybe opened to release the clear water accumulated therein, followingwhich the drain opening is again closed and the said chamber relled witha further supply of foam-forming solution by way of the lling tube, thetube I3 for chamber i2 or the tube I'I for chamber I3. When the fillingtube cap of a given chamber is replaced, said chamber is ready forimmediate use.

It will be apparent that by means of the present invention, a continuoussupply of foamforming liquid may be introduced into a flowing stream ofwater to produce nre extinguishing foam, the chambers I2 and I3 beingalternately illed and emptied of the foam-forming liquid as hereinbeforedescribed to insure an uninterrupted production of such foam for as longa period as may be necessary to extinguish a lire.

To assure proper operation of handle 35 when one or the other ofreservoirs I2 and I3 is exhausted a suitable timing mechanism 56(Figures 2 and 4) adapted to sound an alarm after a predetermined timeis mounted on top I4 adjacent handle 35. While timing mechanism 56 maytake any suitable form, a simplespring woundtimer having a winding key51 adapted tobe wound each time handle 35 is operated has been foundto-be satisfactory. Such devices are well known and many differentforms, such as the timer sold by N. A. Rhodes, Inc., under the tradename Mark Time, may be obtained on the open market.

The invention may be embodied in other speciiic forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is therefore to be considered in` all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency ofl the claims are therefore intended to be embracedtherein.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed as new andA useful is:

1. In an apparatus for injecting a solution of foam-forming materialinto a owing stream of water, a pair of reservoirs for foam-formingsolution, a device comprising an inlet'andoutlet valve body providedwith a unitary, oscillating valve plug adapted to be operable as to theinlet and outlet of the valve body, interposed ina conduit fordelivering water under pressure from a source of supply to a point ofdischarge, high pressure conduits connecting said device to an upperportion of each said reservoir, low pressure conduits connecting saiddevice to a lower portion of each said reservoir, and means forselectively closing the conduits connecting said device to eitherreservoir.

2. An apparatus of the character defined in claim 1, wherein eachreservoir has lling means and drain means whereby either reservoir maybe drained and refilled while the otherv reservoir is in operation.

3. An apparatus of the character defined in claim 1, wherein eachreservoir has filling means and drain means whereby either reservoir maybe drained and reilled while the other reservoir is in operation, andwherein the device has an air vent constantly in communication with thereservoir which is out of use.

4. In an apparatus for injecting foam-forming material into a flowingstream of water; a pair of reservoirs for foam-forming material, meansforming a water conduit, means providing passages connecting said waterconduit and the top of each reservoir, means providing other passagesconnecting the bottom portionof each reservoir and said conduit, andvalve means comprising a unitary, oscillating valve plug interposed insaid passages for selectively establishing such` communications torender only one of said reservoirs operative at any one time as a sourceof supplyv of said foam-forming material.

5. Apparatus for continuously injecting a solution of foam formingmaterial into a owing stream of water, comprising at least a pair ofreservoirs for receiving foam-forming solution; a conduit for deliveringa stream of water under pressure from a source of supply to a point ofdischarge; common means forl connecting said reservoirs to said conduitand delivering foamforming material alternately-from saidzreservoirs tosaid conduit; and means forA independently iilling said reservoirs withfoam-forming solution whereby an exhaustedreservoir may be filledwhile'another is delivering foam-forming solution to said conduit.

6. Theccombination defined in claim5,` wherein saidy common means isvdesigned and arranged to deliver foam-forming material to-said conduitata rate proportioned to the rate of flow of'said stream.

7. In a. fluid mixing device having a.v plurality of'sources offoam-forming materialand a flowingstream of water under pressure, themethod of continuously producing an aqueous solution of foam-formingmaterial for use in the production'of'iire extinguishing foam,comprising'selec.- tivelyby-passing a portion of said stream toone ofvsaid sources of foam-forming solution and simultaneously dischargingsaid solutionV into said stream under influence of the pressure of saidby-passed portion ofr said stream until said source is substantiallyexhausted; then bypass ing saidportion of said stream to another ofsaidsources of foam-forming solution and simultaneously discharging solutionfrom said last-mentioned source into said stream under influence of thepressure of said by-passed portion` of Vsaid stream untilv saidlast-mentioned source'is substantially exhausted while replenishing saidiirst mentioned source of solution, by-passing to a particular source offoam-forming solution being accomplished by the rotation of a unitaryoscillating valve plug to the proper positionA in its valve body, andAcontinuing these steps as long as continuous production of said aqueoussolution is desired.

8. An apparatus `for injecting foam-forming material into a flowingstream of water, comprisingv a conduit for conveying a stream of waterunder pressure from a source of supply to a point of discharge andhaving an inlet section and a Venturi section, at least two reservoirsadapted to contain foam-forming material, irst independent conduit meansconnecting said inlet section to the top portion of each of said.reservoirs, second independent conduit means connecting the bottomportion of each of said reservoirs to said Venturi section, and meansfor simultaneously closing both of the conduit means extending fromeither reservoir to said inlet.V and Venturi sections.

9. Apparatus for receiving foam-formingmaterial and injecting it into aflowing stream-of water under pressure, comprising a tank having a. pairof independent, superposed storagechambers for receiving foam-formingmaterial and a top closure; means carried by said top. closure at oneside thereof fory conveying a stream of water across said top closure,means for alternately diverting a portion of said stream into saidchambers andinjecting foam-forming material into said stream beyond thepoint of diversion from the chamber into which said stream is diverted;a pair of iiller conduits at theother side of'saidrtop closure, one` ofwhich discharges into the upper chamber and the other of which passesthrough said upper chamber and discharges into said lower chamber; andclosure means for independently closing'said llerf conduits.

10. The combination deiined in claiml 9, where.-V in'said chambers haveupwardly dished bottom walls:` forming annular troughs adjacent theirjuncture with the sideY wallsand said injecting means comprises separatefoam-forming mate-vv rialv discharge conduits, theentrance. ends oiwhich are respectively disposed in the troughs 0f said upper and lowerchambers.

11. In an apparatus for injecting foam-forming material into a flowingstream of water, a pair of reservoirs for foam-forming material, meansforming a Water conduit, means providing relatively large passagesconnecting'said Water conduit and the top of each reservoir, meansproviding other relatively restricted passages connecting the bottom ofeach reservoirv and said conduit, and valve means comprising a unitary,oscillating valve plug for selectively closing the passages connectingsaid conduit to either said reservoir.

HAROLD J. BURKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

